As the BCCI ponders over how and when to conduct the postponed Ranji Trophy season, former India head coach Ravi Shastri took a shot at the governing body.
Earlier this month, the BCCI had postponed the Ranji Trophy 2022 indefinitely due to the resurge in covid-19 cases across the country. The Ranji Trophy comprising 38 first-class teams was scheduled to start on January 13 earlier, but now stands postponed while the board is set to host the IPL 2022, starting in the last week of March.
On Friday morning, Ravi Shastri, who recently stepped down as India’s head coach after a highly successful tenure, made a strong statement, via Twitter, in support of holding the Ranji Trophy, the tournament that didn’t happen last season for the first time in its history.
Taking a dig at the Sourav Ganguly-led BCCI, Ravi Shastri said that the Ranji Trophy is the backbone of Indian cricket, which would be left spineless if the tournament isn’t organized.
“The Ranji Trophy is the backbone of Indian cricket. The moment you start ignoring it our cricket will be SPINELESS!” tweeted the former India head coach.
Here’s is Ravi Shastri’s tweet:
The Ranji Trophy is the backbone of Indian cricket. The moment you start ignoring it our cricket will be SPINELESS!
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) January 28, 2022
Meanwhile, it has been learned that the BCCI, in its meeting on Thursday, has decided to conduct the tournament in two phases – before and after the IPL, which starts on March 27.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah, on Friday, said: “The Board has decided to conduct the Ranji Trophy this season in two phases. In the first phase, we plan to complete all matches of the league stage while the knockouts will be held in June.”
“My team is working closely to mitigate any kind of health risk caused by the pandemic, while at the same time ensuring a highly competitive red-ball cricket contest. Ranji Trophy is our most prestigious domestic competition, which has been providing Indian Cricket with an enviable talent pool every year. It is absolutely important that we take all necessary steps to safeguard the interest of this premier event.”
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